An audit report has alleged a financial loss of Rs960 million to the University of Agriculture Peshawar following the transfer of 400 kanals (8,000 marlas) of land to the University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Mardan at a rate substantially below the compensation approved by the courts.
Court-Approved Compensation Ignored
According to Audit Report (PDP No. 789, 2022–23), the Peshawar High Court, in a decision later upheld by the Supreme Court of Pakistan, fixed compensation for land acquired for the University of Agriculture’s Ameer Muhammad Khan Campus in Mardan at Rs125,000 per marla. The audit states that 400 kanals of the acquired land were subsequently transferred to UET Mardan at Rs5,000 per marla instead of the court-approved rate of Rs125,000 per marla, resulting in an alleged financial loss of Rs960 million.
Audit Proceedings and Referral to PAC
The matter was taken up during the audit in March 2024, when departmental officials informed auditors that a detailed reply would be submitted before the Departmental Accounts Committee (DAC). At a DAC meeting held on October 24, 2024, the case was referred to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) for further examination.
Recommendations and Next Steps
The audit has recommended recovery of the outstanding land compensation and appropriate action in accordance with its findings. The observations form part of the Auditor General’s report on the accounts for the financial year 2022–23 and are expected to be reviewed by the Public Accounts Committee.
